Sonny, you're just wrong this time...

I’m going to tell you a stroy about a good friend of mine today named Sonny Scroggins. First off, Sonny’s a guy I have a great deal of respect for. He’s a guy who stands up for what he believes is right. A few years back, he marched around the Statehouse for three or four years until he finally convinced the Legislature to divest the state’s Kansas Public Employment Retirement System (KEPRS) from companies doing business with Sudan.
I met him a couple of years ago when he was out there standing at 21st and Wanamaker speaking out against “Gangsta Rap.” I went out there to meet Sonny and was proud to stand with him in his fight. I didn’t necessarily believe gangster rap was something we could or even should try to legislate. But I too find a lot of Gangster Rap repulsive. But then I’m an old guy too. Go figure.
Since then I’ve run into him at several different rallies around town, the last time I ran into him was the day we protested in front of Cumulus Radio for firing Jim Cates. It didn’t do any good but we all felt a little better for doing what we could.
Sonny’s a good guy who’s done a lot of good for a lot of people. And yes, I do consider him a friend. But I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I didn’t let him know how wrong he is in his latest fight against 501 schools.
By now a lot of you have heard the story about the teacher that was told to go home and change her shirt because the one she showed up for work wearing had a picture of Obama on it.
Sonny, according to the story in the Capital-Journal you’ve decided to protest at different schools around town until a workable solution has been developed for people who wear t- shirts with the likeness of Barrack Obama , yet don’t make a political statement to influence people in the school system one way or another.
Sorry Sonny, but that’s a bunch of crap and you know it. You know as well as I do that simply wearing a t-shirt with Obama’s picture on it less than two weeks before what’s probably the most important presidential election we’ve ever had is in fact, a political statement. Sorry man, I’m not buying it and neither is anybody else.
Just a few days ago my 10 year old niece was giving me a hard time and told me she was for Obama because if McCain’s elected he’ll bring back slavery. I asked her where in the world she got that idea. She told me because her teacher said so.
Granted, maybe those weren’t the exact words out of her teacher’s mouth. I’m sure it was part of a conversation the teacher was having with the kids about comments Whoopi Goldberg made on the “View” when she asked John McCain if she should be worried about the return of slavery if McCain were to be elected president.
My point is simple. Why in the world is this teacher even having this conversation in a classroom with a bunch of fourth graders in the first place? It’s a public school and a public school is no place for any teacher, no matter what their political beliefs are to try to influence our kids. That’s not their job. But then again, I’m not stupid either. Public schools have been used as the premier, liberal training ground for years now and Sonny, you and I both know it.
How about this idea. How about teachers go back to teaching our kids to read and write and leave your damned political beliefs at home where they belong.
Sonny, I invite you or anyone else who wants to talk about this to visit my blog at www.rm235.blogspot.com or like always, you can reach me by e-mail at: www.kevinmcginty@sbcglobal.net